The BJP’s recent unveiling of its West Bengal Lok Sabha election candidates has sparked intrigue. Notably, Rekha Patra, a resident of Sandeshkhali, has been nominated for the Basirhat constituency, signalling the party’s backing for the women of Sandeshkhali and West Bengal. Patra’s selection, purportedly a victim of abuse by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, underscores a significant shift by the BJP.
The list comprises 19 candidates, bringing the tally to 38 for West Bengal, which allocates 42 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Patra’s nomination, amidst allegations against Shajahan Sheikh, amplifies the BJP’s commitment to advocating for women in the region. Sheikh, embroiled in multiple criminal charges, including sexual assault and land encroachment, was detained last month for attacking Enforcement Directorate officers.
In a social media statement, Amit Malviya, the BJP’s West Bengal co-in-charge, underscored the party’s support for victims like Rekha Patra and criticized Mamata Banerjee’s administration for its apparent indifference.
Another unexpected development was the relocation of former state chief Dilip Ghosh from the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat to Bardhaman-Durgapur. Similarly, former Union minister Debasree Chowdhury was shifted from Raiganj to South Kolkata. While Ghosh embraced the new challenge, Chowdhury affirmed her allegiance to the party’s decisions.
However, the re-nomination of Raju Bista for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat drew criticism from party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma, who bemoaned the choice of an “outsider” for the hills. The BJP’s roster also features Jayanta Ray for Jalpaiguri and Tapas Ray for Kolkata North, the latter having recently switched allegiance from the TMC.
Amidst these developments, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh rebuked the BJP for delaying the announcement of the full candidate list and expressed surprise at Dilip Ghosh’s nomination for Bardhaman-Durgapur.
